Import Wizard fails with generic error message

Addressing common Data Import Wizard errors to ensure your file is properly formatted:

1. Check for Unique Field violations
Find out whether the object you are importing into has unique fields. If it does, ensure the import file does not contain a value that already belongs to an existing record in Salesforce. Duplicate values in unique fields cause the import to fail with a generic error.

2. Verify Required Fields are present
Find out whether there are required fields on the object in question. If there are, ensure they are included in the import file with valid values. You may also see a "Data already exists" error message when some required fields are missing.

3. Validate State and Country Picklist values
If the State and Country Picklist feature is enabled in your org, you must import values that are predefined in the State and Country Picklist configuration page. If the import file contains State values not yet configured in Salesforce, the import fails. Either deactivate this feature temporarily or ensure the import file only contains States already created in Salesforce.

4. Remove empty rows from the file
Ensure the import file does not contain any empty rows before the last row of data. Empty rows in the middle or at the end of the file (before the final record) cause parsing errors.

5. Split the file into smaller batches
Try splitting the import file into smaller files with fewer records per file and import them separately. This can help isolate which records or data values are causing the error.

6. Temporarily disable Validation Rules
If you are uncertain whether a Validation Rule is evaluating to true for imported records, temporarily deactivate Validation Rules on the object in question. Note that deactivating Validation Rules may affect data quality, so re-enable them immediately after the import.

7. Check Restricted Picklist values
Review the import file for picklist field values that do not match an active value in the Salesforce picklist configuration. Either add the missing value to the picklist definition in Setup, or update the import file to use an active value.

Using the Unified Data Import Wizard — Reviewing import jobs:
With the Unified Data Import Wizard, you can review your import jobs by accessing the Bulk Data Load Jobs section as outlined in Determine which records are imported using Data Import Wizard.

Note: The Monitoring Bulk Data Load Jobs setup section is not available in all Salesforce Editions. See Salesforce editions with API access for more details.

Alternative import tools if the Import Wizard continues to fail:

• Data Loader — A desktop application for large-volume imports with detailed error logging.
• Third party apps from the AppExchange — Additional import tools available for various Salesforce editions.